Project overview
The Interstate 90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities study will identify and recommend changes to the five WSDOT I-90 ramps at Rainier Avenue South to improve safe travel for all modes and increase access to the Judkins Park Link light rail station via transit transfer, walking, rolling and biking.
As more people choose to ride transit and connect to the station, we expect more pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-car travelers in the area. We also want to make Judkins Park and nearby neighborhoods more connected by supporting walking, rolling, biking and other ways to get around the community.
We will identify a concept for the I-90 ramps at Rainier Avenue South and then take the concept to the 30% design level, focusing on enhancing safe travel for all. The design concept will also support access to the Link station via transit transfers, walking, rolling and cycling.
This study will follow a Complete Streets approach and will require community assessment.
What to expect
The study involves community engagement, including an Advisory Group, in the study process. The Judkins Park area has been part of several transportation studies and community engagement efforts. We want to learn from past studies, while also making sure we have the most up-to-date information from the community for this work. We collected helpful feedback for this study in 2024 and 2025, and we plan to keep asking the community for input. Feedback from the community and the Advisory Group is a crucial part of the study process as it ensures that the recommendation developed is beneficial for the entire community. Meaningful engagement with all communities is a crucial aspect of this process.
A map showing on-ramps and off-ramps for I-90 at Rainier Avenue South.
History
Voters in 2008 approved a plan to extend Link light rail to the east side of Lake Washington, placing a station in the middle of I-90, with one entrance near Judkins Park and two entrances on Rainier Avenue South.
As the Judkins Park community adapts to the new light rail station, we have an opportunity to create better connections that benefit everyone. Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists accessing the light rail station and other amenities in the neighborhood from Rainier Avenue South must cross I-90 on-ramps and off-ramps that were not designed for a high volume of people who walk, roll and bike.
Context
This study continues the conversations started by the City of Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) in their Judkins Park Station Access Study (2017-2019) and WSDOT's 2023 Public Transportation Mobility Report, both of which engaged the community and resulted in recommendations to increase accessibility. Additionally, King County Metro is planning for RapidRide R on Rainier Avenue South with a stop at the Judkins Park light rail station entrances. See links to other projects and resources in the “Related links” section.
Approach
The study focuses on solutions that rethink the I-90 ramps, enhance safety and connectivity in the community, including:
Healthier air from reduced air pollution.
Enhanced safety for people of all ages, modes and abilities.
Better access to businesses and services for customers walking, rolling and biking.
Better access to more transportation choices that save users money.
More environmental benefits from less car dependency and less traffic.
Increased connectivity and transportation options for vulnerable populations.
Complete Streets
This study will apply a Complete Streets approach. WSDOT’s Complete Streets is an approach to planning, designing, building, operating and maintaining streets that focuses on safe access for people of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders. Creating a Complete Streets design enables safe and convenient access to destinations for all people.
WSDOT conducts robust community engagement on all Complete Streets projects, as these projects should be planned and designed to reflect the vision of the surrounding community.
Washington State’s HEAL Act
This study is also guided by the HEAL Act (Healthy Environment for All Act), a law in Washington state that requires agencies to design a collaborative approach to ensure projects proportionately benefit the community as a whole. The HEAL Act addresses environmental benefits and community health impacts by requiring all laws, rules and policies to prioritize community members who are most impacted by projects, ensure even distribution of resources and benefits, and eliminate harm (RCW 70A.02.010).
This study will conduct an environmental justice assessment to identify the benefits and burdens for all community members, including populations who have been disproportionately impacted by past projects. These assessments are conducted for any significant agency action to prevent disproportionate environmental and community impacts and to ensure that environmental benefits are distributed evenly, particularly to those in highly impacted communities.
Outcomes
Several concepts (alternatives) for improving the I-90 ramps will be assessed to improve safe travel for all modes.
Community engagement
Community engagement is woven into this study, including:
- Advisory Group
- Blog posts
- Learning from past engagement
- Listening sessions
- Community survey
- Online open house
- Briefings
- In-person events
Feedback from the community is a crucial part of the study process as it ensures that the recommendation that gets developed meets the current needs and preferences of the community.
Learning from past and ongoing engagement
The Judkins Park neighborhood has been part of several transportation studies and community engagement efforts. We collected helpful feedback for this study in 2024 and 2025, learned from what partner agencies have heard from the community, and we plan to keep asking the community for input. We want to learn from past studies, while also making sure we have the most up-to-date information from the community for this work.
We talked with many people during Advisory Group meetings, events, surveys and listening sessions. Based on what we heard, we are studying ways to make walking, rolling, biking and taking transit more comfortable, reduce conflicts between traffic and pedestrians and people who bike, create shorter routes for pedestrians and bikes, and get vehicles to drive slower.
Advisory Group
The Judkins Park Advisory Group includes people from local schools, community organizations, small businesses, advocacy groups and transportation agencies (City of Seattle, King County Metro and Sound Transit). The Advisory Group serves an advisory role to WSDOT, providing technical and community feedback at multiple steps in the study process.
This Advisory Group kicked off in December 2024, following an open application process. Twenty-four members were selected to serve their community and will meet about seven times between 2024 and 2026. Meeting recordings and presentations are posted here.
Advisory Group Meeting presentations and recordings
Advisory Group Meeting 1
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Advisory Group Meeting 1 Presentation (PDF 4.4MB)
Meeting recording
Advisory Group Meeting 2
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Advisory Group Meeting 2 Presentation (PDF 20.6MB)
Meeting recording
Advisory Group Meeting 3
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
Advisory Group Meeting 3 Presentation (PDF 6.3MB)
Meeting recording
Advisory Group Meeting 4
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025
Advisory Group Meeting 4 Presentation (PDF 18.2MB)
Meeting recording
Advisory Group Meeting 4 Breakout Session Summary (PDF 237KB)
Advisory Group Meeting 5
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026
Advisory Group Meeting 5 Presentation (PDF 10.2 MB)
Meeting Recording
Blog posts
We share study updates and insights through the WSDOT Blog, covering everything from project background and goals to what we're hearing from the community. Find our latest posts in the Related Links section of this webpage.
Listening sessions
Three listening sessions were conducted in late 2024 to hear about transportation challenges, needs and preferences. These sessions included community-based organizations and other interested parties.
Survey
A community survey in fall 2024 sought feedback from community residents, businesses, organizations and other users that currently or in the future will travel on Rainier Avenue South at the I-90 interchange.
Online open house
The community can find up-to-date information, learn more about how rethinking the I-90 ramps can enhance safety and connectivity, and find ways to stay engaged with the project through an online open house, coming soon.
Briefings
We meet members of the community who have a special interest in this project to talk about this work. This gives us an opportunity to have a focused discussion where we share details about the study, answer questions and receive feedback from community members. If you or your group want to learn more about this study, we can speak at a meeting or set up an information table at an event. Reach out to us to explore what’s possible!
In-person events
It is important to us that we are out in the community to learn more about how people interact with the I-90 ramps and to hear the most up-to-date community feedback, as well as answer any questions or provide any information needed. Check back here often for updates on when we will be out in the community; we hope you will come visit with us.
